Simulated ball game apparatus



Jan. 4, 1966 G. A. SWARTZ SIMULATED BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 19s:

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEOPGE/iSI VAPTZ ATTORNEY Jan. 4, 1966 s. A. SWARTZ 3,22

SIMULATED BALL GAME APPARATUS Filed Feb. 19, 1963 3 Sireets-Sheet z Z5 G 12 5;;54 #55 45 I 1 [2111A J8 INVENTOR 6501965 A. 5 WA P72 2 ATTORNEY United States Patent" This inve'rition relatee in general to game apparatus, and more -par tiei'1larly, to games wherein a game p1ece,-for example, a ball or a inanikim is-mechanically moved. by

oneperson or a group "of pers'ons alongi a-predetermined path; for example; a simulation of the base lines of'a base-ball gzlme, and movement of-'-the'-'game piece may be stopped 'in simulationrof 'puttingout a base runner by another personor groupeof persons;

Aprimaryobject of the invention is to provide a game apparatus of "thisncharacter which shall include a novel andIimpr-oved constr uction'andf combination. of means for mechanically moving: the. game piece along the predeterminedpath,-means-such as electrical visible devices controlled-by switch mechanism to signal the stopping" of: themovement of the gam'e piece, and means controlled by'botli pl'ayers or groups of players to select the action openwr'available to-the player or players who are responsible for mechanically'inoving the game piece.

Still another "object of theinvention is to provide novel and improved mechanical means for moving the game piece along thepredetermined path on a playing surface or gameboard, which shall be'simple and relatively inexpensive inconstruction-and EELSYrtO operate. a

It is 'a-fur-ther object of the invention to provide a novel and timproved simple and relatively inexpensive switch mechanism tocontrol-the-energization of the signal devices sothat after sthe movement of the game piece has started; at leastone ofya plurality :of the switches when actuated while energized will energize at least one of the signals while'operation of some of the other switches will fail -to energize thecorrespondingsignals, and the condition ofthe several switches can bevariedfrom time totime.

. Other objects, advantages and results of the-invention will be broughtout by the following descriptionin conjunction; with. the accompanying" drawings in which:

, FIGURE 1 'is a top plan-view of a baseball game apparatus embodying the invention; a

. FIGURE :2 is a similar view with portions of the table or. board broken away for clearness in illustration;

FIGURE 3"is a fragmentary enlarged transverse verticar sectional view approximately on the plane of the line r 3- or FIGUREZ;

' FIGURE 4 is an elevafio'nal view of one side of the apparatus with portions broken away and shown in section on the plane of the line 44 of FIGURE 2;

V FIGURE 5 is' a similar view with portions shown in section on the plane of the line" 5-5 of FIGURE'Z;

k FIGURE 6 is a vertical longitudinal sectional" view approximately on the plane of the line 66 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a greatlyenla'rged fragmentary plan view of a portion of the mechanism for mechanically moving the game piece, taken from approximately the plane of'the line 7 7 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE'jgis a fragmentary yerltical'sectional view on the plane of the line 8-8 "ofFIGURE 7;

' FIGURE '9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional new approximately onthe plane ofthe line 9 9 of FIG- YZ? FIGURE 10 isa sectional view on the plane of the line 10- 1 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is an -enlarg'ed fragmentary top plan view ofthe'play-indicating disc and a portion of the operating mechanism therefor; and

FIGURE'llA is a composite sectional and elevational 3,227,453 Patented Jan. 4, 1966 "Ice viewwapproximately onthe plane of the line 11a-11a of FIGURE 1 1'. I

Specifically describing'theillustrated embodiment of the invention, the game apparatus includes a frame or table Athatis formed of any suitable materiahpreferably asyntheticplast'ic composition, and has a playing board B mou'nted at the upper end of the frame in any suitable As shown, the frame has a-front wall 10, side walls 11- and 12 anda rear wall 13, and said' walls are formedadjacerit'their upper edges with a rabbet C in manner.

which-the-board B is seated.

Beneath the playing board'B and in spaced relation thereto is an apparatus support board D, and beneath thesupport board D is fixedly mounted an electricity-conducting plate E which forms apart of electrical circuits to be hereinafter described.

The-playing board B may be translucent or may have a plurality of transparencies or windows with each of which is associated a signal device, for example, an electric lamp.

In the present instance, these transparencies or windows are located on the playing. board in positions correspond ing to baseball players, the transparencies 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 denoting first baseman,'second basemanythird baseman,

home plate and-shortstop, respectively, while the transparencies denoted 6', 7 and 8 represent the left fielder,

shown-in FIGURES 1 and 2, a rectangular hole is formed inthe playing board and within the hole is mounted a square piece 14 of similar material having its edges spaced from the sidewalls of the hole so as to providethe slot between theedges of the hole andthe edges of the piece 14. The piece 14 may bemountedin the frame in any suitable-manner, but as shown, a circular block 15 is set on the apparatus support board D and on top of said block IS are set discs 16 and 17, the functions of which will be described later. The piece 14 is set on the uppermost disc 17 and said piece, discs and block 15 are secured tothe board D by screws 18.

The disc 16 forms a supportfor a game piece actuat ing plate 19 that is mounted to rotate about an axis disposed .at the center of the piece 14. The disc 17 serves as thepivot element for the plate 19 and is disposed in a circular opening in the center'of said plate. The plate 19 has a plurality of equidistantly spaced radially disposed recesses or slots 20, there being four recesses in the present instance, to receive and support a game piece which in the present instance is shown in the form of a ball 21. The slot 9is of a width to permit free movement of the game piece therealong, and with the game piece set in one of said recesses 20, as the plate 19 is rotated in the direction of the arrow in FIGURE 1, the game piece will be moved or propelled along the slot in the direction in which a base runner would move from home plate around the bases. The plate 19 is either translucent or transparent to permit the passage of light through the windows 1-4 as will be later described.

The plate is rotated by suitable means, a preferredone of which is shown in the drawings (FIGURES 7 and 8) and includes an helical wire coil 22 that serves in the nature of a screw and coacts with a plurality of equidistantly circumfe'rentially spaced studs 23 projecting downwardly from the plate 19. The driving element 22 is rotated by a shaft 24 that extends coaxially from the coil and is journaled in suitable bearing brackets 25 secured 'onthe apparatus support board D Theend of the'shaft 24 projects through the side wall 11 of the frame and has a crank handle 26 for rotating the driving element.

With this construction, it will be observed that when a game piece or ball 21 is set in the slot 9 and one of said recesses 20, and the crank handle 26 is rotated, the game piece will be moved along the slot, usually starting at home plate 4 and progressing along the base line past the basemen positions 1, 2, and 3.

A batting indicator is provided and is shown as comprising a circular disc 27 pivotally mounted, for example, on a pivot pin or stud 28, on the apparatus support board behind the home plate and beneath the playing board B. The indicator disc has a plurality of indicia 29 thereon that represent in the present instance strikes, balls, foul balls, one-base hit, two-base hits, three-base hits and four-base hits or homeruns. For example, the letter S indicates strikes, F indicates foul ball, B indicates ball and 1 indicates one-base hits. The indicator is moved alternately in opposite directions and a detent 30 is provided for stopping movement of the indicator in one direction. As shown, a pinion 31 is integrally connected to the disc 27 coaxially therewith and meshs with a rack 32 on a rock bar 33 which is longitudinally slidably mounted in the frame as by bearing blocks 34 on the apparatus support board with one end extending through and beyond the rear wall 13 of the frame. The rack bar 33 is movable in one direction by the person or player representing the fielding team and upon release is actuated in the other direction by a spring 35 so as to spin the indicator disc 27 in a counterclockwise direction in FIGURE 2. To limit the rotation of the disc in that direction, a stop stud 36 is provided on the bottom of the disc to abut a stop element 37 that is fixedly connected to the frame in a manner hereinafter described. When the disc is rotated by the fielding team in a clockwise direction, the stud 36 engages an electrical contact 38 to energize a signal at the pitchers box represented by a window P in a manner about to be described.

The rotation of the disc under the influence of the spring 35 may be stopped by the detent 30 which is operated by the person representing the batter, said detent in the present instance being shown as a spring strip having one end fixedly connected to the side wall 11 of the frame and its other end projecting upwardly through a hole 30a in the playing board and its intermediate portion normally biased into engagement with one of a plurality of teeth 39 on the periphery of the disc. All of the indicia except one are normally concealed beneath the playing board, but one of the indicia is displayed through a window 40 in the playing board behind the home plate as Best shown in FIGURE 1. The rack bar 33 is operated each time aball is to be pitched, and the indicium displayed in the window 40 indicates the play to which the batter is entitled, for example, a strike or a home run.

A ball having been placed in the slot 9 at home plate, when the indicator indicates a batted ball, the batter immediately starts to rotate the crank 26 as fast as possible to move the ball along the slot toward first base, the ball representing a base runner, and at the same time the fielding team tries to stop the play, that is, to put out the base runner. This is done by a system of electrical signals and connections to a source of electricity which'in the present instance is shown as including dry batteries 41 mounted in a holder comprising two spring clips 42 and 43 secured to the apparatus support board D and each constituting a terminal. One of the terminals has a spring extension 44 that contacts the conducting plate E while the other terminal 43 is connected to a spring-conducting strip 45, one end of which is in contact with a conducting stud 46 on the rack bar 33 which is also a conductor and carries current through the conducting pinion, disc 27, stud 36, and contact element 38 which is formed at one end of a conducting strip 47 that is mounted on the apparatus support board D and has a lamp socket 48 at one end thereof in which is an incandescent lamp 49 visi- 4 ble through the window P representing the pitchers box (FIGURES 1, 2 and 3).

The other end of the conducting strip frictionally bears against the shaft 50 journaled in bearing blocks 51 on the apparatus support board D on which is rigidly mounted a switch rotor 52 with which coacts a plurality of actuating contactors 53, one of which coacts with each of the signal devices at the windows 1-8. As shown, these contactors comprise conducting spring strips that are fixedly secured intermediate their ends on the apparatus support boardD as by rivets 54, each with one end provided with means such as a lamp socket 55 for supporting an electrical signal such as a lamp 56, one terminal of which is in contact with the contact plate E. The other ends of the actuating contactors are disposed between the rotor 52 and the playing board B as best shown in FIGURES 9 and 10 and normally yieldingly held out of contact with the rotor so that the contactor can be pressed into contact with the rotor to close the circuit through the corresponding signal device. The rotor has a circumferential groove 57 for each contactor in each groove is disposed an insulating element in the form of a ring 58 which loosely encircles and is suspended from the rotor. Certain portions of each insulating ring are of a width greater than the depth of the corresponding groove as indicated at 59 while other portions of the ring are of a width consideraly less than the depth of the groove as indicated at 60. Conveniently, the portions 60 are formed by notches in the outer periphery of the rings, and each contactor has a contact point 61 of a size to enter any of said notches of the corresponding ring. In accordance with the invention, the contactors are pressed toward the rotor by a stylus or push rod 62 that is inserted through any one of a plurality of openings 63 in the playing board. As shown, each of the openings is disposed above one of the contactors so that when the stylus is pushed through the corresponding opening 63, it will engage the contactor and press the latter toward the rotor 52. If one of the portions 59 of the corresponding insulating ring 58 happens to be disposed beneath the contact point 61, the contactor will be prevented from contacting the rotor, while if one of the notches 60 is disposed beneath the contact point as shown in FIGURE 9 and the middle of FIG- URE 10, the contact point will engage the rotor and close the circuit through the corresponding signal device. Each opening 63 corresponds to one of the signal devices, the letters C, L, S, R denoting center field, left field, shortstop and right field, respectively, and the numerals 3, 2, 1, 4 representing third base, second base, first base and home plate, respectively, at the top of FIGURE 1. The rotor is rotatable in turn by both the batting team and the fielding team, and for this purpose, the shaft 50 extends through and beyond the side wall 12 of the frame and has a finger piece 50a thereon, whereby the positions of the insulating rings 58 with respect to the contact points of the corresponding contactors may be varied or adjusted, it being readily understood that as the rotor is rotated, the friction between the rotor and the base of the grooves and the inner peripheral surfaces of the respective rings 58 will cause the rings to rotate in one direction or the other when the rotor is rotated.

While the structural details of the apparatus may be widely modified and changed, for convenience in construction the fixed stop 37 is shown as a block of insulation mounted on the contact element 38 so that the stud 36 will not close the circuit through the lamp at the pitchers box when the indicator disc is in normal position as shown in FIGURE 2.

Also, while it is not essential, means may be provided for adjusting the tension of the spring 35. For example, as shown, one end of the spring is connected to the rack bar while the other end is connected to an adjusting lever 64, one end of whichis pivotediat #65 on? thew-apparatus support aboard While. .thevothe'r endL engages a? .detent one order of procedure may be as'follows': The batted pulls and holds the detent 30 out of contact with the batting indicating disc 27 while his opponent pushes the rack bar 33 from its normal position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 2 in the direction to rotate the indicator disc 27 clockwise until the stud 36 engages the contact element 38 and thereby energizes the lamp at the pitchers box. The rack bar is then quickly released to allow the disc 27 to spin counterclockwise until the batter releases the detent according to his own judgment to stop rotation of the disc with the indicia he desires exposed in the window 40. If the indicia indicates a hit, the batter then quickly turns the crank 26 to move the ball that has been placed in the slot 9 at home plate to the proper base. At the same time, the opponent tries to insert the stylus 62 into the proper opening 63 to energize the proper signal device and thus indicatethat the batter is out. For example, if the indicator disc indicates a one-base hit, the energization of the signal device at either first base or shortstop before the ball reaches first base indicates that the batter or base runner is out. If there are other men on any other bases, the lead man may be put out by energizing the signal at the base to which he is running, before trying to put the batter out at first base. If the indicator disc indicates a twoor a three-base hit, the batter may be put out by energizing the signals at either left field, right field, or center field before the game piece or ball representing the batter reaches second baseor third base, respectively. Additional and different rules may be used according to the desires of the players.

While the invention has been shown and described as embodied in certain structural details, it will be under stood by those skilled in the art that the construction of the game apparatus may be widely modified and changed within the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a simulated game apparatus including a playing board having a window therein, movable offensive game pieces mounted on said board and selectively operable chance control-led defensive play indicating means, the combination comprising: an offensive play indicator including a circular disc mounted beneath and partially concealed bysaid board with selected portions exposed through said window, said disc including circumferentially spaced indicia displayed successively in said window, manually operated means for rotating said disc in one direction, spring means for rotating said disc in the opposite direction, a manually controlled element for stopping rotation of said disc in the second mentioned direction and means for adjusting the tension of said spring to vary the speed of rotation of said disc.

2. In a simulated game apparatus including a playing board, movable offensive game pieces mounted on said board and selectively operable defensive play indicating means, the combination comprising: an offensive play indicator associated with said board selectively manually operable to indicate one of a variety of offensive plays, offensive game piece actuating means mounted on said board selectively manually operable to actuate said game piece to a selected .position on said board over a predetermined course of movement, a plurality of selectively operable defensive play means which are by chance either active or inactive and each having associated therewith an indicium which may by rules of play be designated as correlated with a selected indicium on said offensive play indicator, and means for actuating one of said defensive play indicatin'grmeansiinnrespense to the operation ofa defensive play means which is energized. when. so actuat d. I p

sitructure'd'efined claim .ZL'Wherein s'ai'dfoffnsiiiieLgafriie piece actuating eansi'inclfi'dsmeansdfiiiirig a not in said'playi'fig boar'd inwh'ich offensive garn'epieces may be selectively movedfover a priedet'ermin'edifcourse id: the said slot, a plate movablygmountd, beneath s'a'id bard adjacent said slot; means defining at 1eas't"ofie elongated recess in said plate arranged beneath and in an oblique relation to said slot in said playing board to receive and support said offensive game piece and carry the same over said predetermined course defined by said slot upon rotation of said plate.

4. A game apparatus as defined in claim 3 wherein said slot in said playing board simulates the base lines of a baseball diamond, and said plate is circular and pivotally mounted beneath the board at the center of the area defined by the simulated base lines formed by said slot, said plate including at least four radially disposed equidistantly spacedjgame piece receiving recesses therein.

5. The structure defined by claim 2 wherein said selectively operable defensive play indicating means includes an electrical signal device at each of a plurality of locations on said board.

6. A simulated game apparatus comprising a frame including a playing board, means including an offensive play indicating member movably mounted on said board to selectively indicate by chance one of a plurality of oifensive plays on said board, an electrical defensive play indicating device at each of a plurality of locations on said board, switch means on said board including a plurality of selectively operable switches and circuit connections, each switch for closing and opening a circuit between one of said defensive play indicating devices and a source of electricity, respectively, and each switch having an actuating contactor mounted on and insulated from said frame and from the other contactors, and chance controlled means for simultaneously and individually adjusting each of said switches selectively providing for closing of circuits or prevention of closing of circuits upon actuation of the respective actuating contactors.

7. The structure defined by claim 6 in which said chance controlled switch adjusting means includes a switch mechanism having a conducting rotor for connection to a source of electricity, each of said contactors connectable to one of said defensive play indicating devices and normally yieldingly held out of contact with said rotor but adapted to be pressed into contact with the rotor, and an insulating element mounted for movement between said rotor and each actuating contactor and movable into different positions relative to one thereof, each insulating element being formed to permit and prevent contact of the contactor with said rotor, respectively, upon movement of said insulating element into different positions.

8. The game apparatus defined by claim 7 in which said rotor includes a circumferential groove for each contactor and said insulating members comprise rings each loosely encircling the rotor and suspended in one of said grooves and provided with portions of a width greater than the depth of the grooves and other narrower portions of a width less than the depth of the grooves so that the wide portions and the narrow portions of said rings prevent and permit contact of the contactor with said rotor, respectively.

1/1931 Grimes 27389 4/1911 Smiley.

(Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoffman 27388 Dreuguitz 27388 Mayorga 27388 Quinn 27393 Peiper.

Lusser 273138 X Iannone et a1. 27388 8 2,901,253 8/1959 Grant 273138 X 3,022,075 2/1962 Danner 27393 FOREIGN PATENTS I 588,746 12/1959 Canada. DELBERT B. LOWE. Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKMAN, Examiner. 

2. IN A SIMULATED GAME APPARATUS INCLUDING A PLAYING BOARD, MOVABLE OFFENSIVE GAME PIECES MOUNTED ON SAID BOARD AND SELECTIVELY OPERABLE DEFENSIVE PLAY MEANS, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING: AN OFFENSIVE PLAY INDICATOR ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BOARD SELECTIVELY MANUALLY OPERABLE TO INDICATE ONE OF A VARIETY OF OFFENSIVE PLAYS, OFFENSIVE GAME PIECE ACTUATING MEANS MOUNTED ON SAID BOARD SELECTIVELY MANUALLY OPERABLE TO ACTUATE SAID GAME PIECE OF A SELECTED POSITION ON SAID BOARD OVER A PREDETERMINED COURSE OF MOVEMENT, A PLURALITY OF SELECTIVELY OPERABLE DEFENSIVE PLAY MEANS WHICH ARE BY CHANCE EITHER ACTIVE OR INACTIVE AND EACH HAVING ASSOCIATED THEREWITH AN INDICIUM WHICH MAY BY RULES OF PLAY BE DESIGNATED AS CORRELATED WITH A SELECTED INDICIUM ON SAID OFFENSIVE PLAY INDICATOR, AND MEANS FOR ACTIVATING ONE OF SAID DEFENSIVE PLAY INDICATING MEANS IN RESPONSE TO THE OPERATION OF A DEFENSIVE PLAY MEANS WHICH IS ENERGIZED WHEN SO ACTUATED. 